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Learning the value of information and reward over time when solving exploration-exploitation problems
Irene Cogliati Dezza1, Angela J Yu2, Axel Cleeremans3
1Centre for Research in Cognition & Neurosciences (CRCN), Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium. icogliat@ulb.ac.be.
Scientific Reports
|December 7, 2017
Summary
Animals balance familiar choices with exploring new options to adapt. This study reveals how both reward and information influence this decision-making, crucial for understanding behavior.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Economics
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Animals face a constant trade-off between exploiting known rewards and exploring uncertain options.
- Understanding the mechanisms behind the exploitation-exploration dilemma is crucial for explaining adaptive behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate human decision-making in a task manipulating reward and information value.
- To develop a computational model incorporating information value into reinforcement learning.
Main Methods:
- A gambling task was designed to independently vary informational value and reward potential.
- A novel computational model was introduced, extending reinforcement learning to include information valuation.
Main Results:
- Both reward and information acquired during learning significantly impact exploitation-exploration choices.
- The influence of reward and information on decisions is context-dependent, varying with the reward environment.
Conclusions:
- Decision-making under uncertainty involves a balance influenced by both expected rewards and the value of new information.
- This research provides insights into the exploitation-exploration dilemma and suggests avenues for future studies across the animal kingdom.
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